Car Crash Attorney St. Louis: Preventing Child Passenger Injuries

Every year, a large number of child passenger injuries are caused by car accidents and cars themselves. Cars can cause injuries even if they are not moving. Each year, there are several cases of kids dying of hyperthermia and heat stroke after they are inadvertently left inside a hot car. Many child injuries can be prevented by using certain safety devices. Here is a roundup of some of these safety devices that we found interesting and useful:

Smart car seats: A company has released something called a smart car seat that has temperature, angle, and motion sensors. These seats send an alert signal to the parent’s smartphone if the seatbelt is unbuckled or too warm while the car is moving.

Motion and heat sensors: These sensors are installed in a car seat and can sense heat or movement and alert parents if the child is left behind in the car.

GPS Systems: There are GPS systems that are specifically designed for children to help parents keep a track of their children. Some of these GPS systems feature a one-button touch pad that allows children call parents in case of trouble.

Proximity sensors: These sensors feature two parts. One remains with the parent and other with the child. When the parent or caregiver walks too far away from the child, the alarm goes off.

These devices can go a long way in preventing child injuries, however, it is important not to rely on them blindly. Nothing can replace the human mind and instinct. According to the NHTSA relying completely on these safety devices is not a good idea due to several reasons including:

Not completely reliable: According to the NHTSA, these safety devices are not 100 percent reliable and do not always work correctly. They may be affected by the presence of cell phones, liquids, or other problems. Some product reviews show that the devices did not work as intended in a given situation.

Break in routine can cause child death from hot car: These safety devices require parents or caregivers to act in a certain way. Any break in this routine can lead to an injury. For example, for the proximity sensor to work, the caregiver should carry one part of the device, but in case the caregiver fails to carry it or hand it over to the other caregiver, injuries can still result.

Many safety devices work only when the child is in the car seat: According to NHTSA reports, close to half of the cases of child deaths caused by hot car are occur when the child is not in a car seat. So, the devices that require the child to be in a car seat won’t work in such cases.

Parents need to be extra cautious when traveling with kids and about leaving them inside the car when they go out. If your child has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, make a claim with the help of a qualified car accident attorney. Call (314) 361-4242 to schedule a free consultation.